Pipe bending and straightening machine



Dec. 8, 1953 P. w. ESSLINGER 2,661,783

- PIPE BENDING AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Paul W Ess/inger INVENTOR.

- 9 BY W 3 Attmqs Dec. 8, 1953 P. w. ESSLINGER PIPE BENDING AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet Paul W. E ss/inger INVENTOR.

Dec. 8, 1953 P. w. ESSLINGER PIPE BENDING AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 R W am g N .0 E 9 0w v E m w M w 4 r B m m Patented Dec. 3, 19 5?;

PIPE BENDING AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Paul W. Esslinger, Nampa, Idaho, assignor to Automatic Benders, Inc., Nampa, Idaho, a corporation of Idaho Application February 10, 1950, Serial N 0. 143,568

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe bending machines and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for selectively bending and straightening electrical conduits automatically without the necessity of having to dismantle the machine each time a difierent diameter conduit is to be bent.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a pipe bending and straightening machine including a swingahle form that is operated by an electric motor together with a switch for the motor that is slidably adjustable and which is actuated to a circuit open position after the member has swung a predetermined amount, so that the pipes, rods, bars or the like may be bent to various curves.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a pipe bending and/or straightening machine that is so constructed as to accommodate pipes, rods, bars or the like of various diameters and which is capable of bending pipes, rods, bars or the like to various curvatures or radii.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pipe bending and straightening machine having relatively few working parts that require very little service or repair and thereby permitting the device to be operated at a minimum expense.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a pipe bending and straightening machine that is extremely small and compact in structure, simple and practical in use, eflicient and durable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinaf er described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure l but showing the pipe clamp moved to the lower step of the frame;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the pipe form moved to the position it occupies after bending a pipe to a 90 degree radius, and with dotted lines showing the pipe guide and clamp moved to a position to permit removal of the pipe;

Figure 4 is a front view'of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is afragmentary perspective View of the pipe form;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there isv disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a frame including a pair of stepped side portions l2 and is, an upper rear wall It and a lower rear wall It. The walls [6 and I8 join the side portions 52, id and are provided with elongated slots 26 and 22, the longitudinal edges of which are formed with channels or grooves 24.

The numeral 26 designates a pipe form or bending member that is formed of a plurality of steps 28, 30 and 32. The steps are quadrants of circles and include curved or arcuate outer faces 34, 36 and 38 that are formed with channels or grooves 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, and 58. The grooves vary in depth and radii to accommodate pipes, bars, rods or the like of various diameters. The faces 34, 36 and 33 are concentric with respect to each other. i v w The apex of the member 26, which is a common apex for all of the steps, is integrally formed with plane of section line a vertical sleeve portion or trunnion 52 in which there is received a shaftfi l Whose upper end supports a laterally projecting armjfit. V

The upper and lowerends of the sleeve portion or trunnion 52 extends above and below the member 26 and support upper and-lower bearings or collars 5B and 60 that are slidably received in the grooves 24'. of the upper and lower slots Ell and 2'2, respectively. The collars 58 and til also permit rotation or swinging movement of the member 26 with respect to the frame it.

The shaft 54 supports intermediate its ends, a hub 62 that enters a recess 65 in the sleeve portion 52. The hub 62 is secured to one end of a screw 66 whose other end enters a gear housing 68 at one end of the frame it. The screw $6 is received in a longitudinal recess $9 in the member 26. An electric motor is suitably mounted beneath the frame 10 drives a pinion it within the housing 98 which in turn drives a gear 14 suitably journaled in housing 68, having a threaded opening that receives the screw 98. The housing 68 includes an opening to permit the screw 98 to extend therethrough as the screw is moved longitudinally of the frame 19 to pull the sleeve portion 52 toward the side portion I4.

The step 28 of the member 29 includes a lug 56 through which bores, having radii equal to the radii of the grooves ill and 32 extend to retain relatively small diameter pipe relative to the member 26. The step 99 also includes a lug it through which bores of radii equal to the radii of grooves id and 19 extend to retain medium size pipe relative to the member 29. The step 32 is formed with a lug 89 having a pair or bores of radii equal to the radii of the grooves 38 and 59 for receiving relatively large diameter pipe.

The upper step 82 of the side portion I l is provided with a vertical face having a pair of horizontaI grooves therein corresponding to the grooves 49 and 42; the intermediate step a: of the side portion I4 is provided with a vertical face having a pair of horizontal grooves corresponding to the grooves 44 and 46; and, the

lower step 69 of the side portion id is provided with a vertical face having a pair of horizontal grooves corresponding to the grooves 49 and 99.

An upper lug 88 projects laterally from the upper step of the side portion I2 an intermediate lug 90 projects laterally from the intermediate step of the side portion I2; and a lower lug 92 projects laterally from the lower step of the side portion I2.

Means is provided for clamping a pipe, rod or bar against the frame and within a selected groove in the vertical face of a selected step of the side portion I4. This means comprises an elongated substantially rectangular clamping member and guide 93 having longitudinal grooves of various sizes in its faces to accommodate pipes of various diameters. The grooves in the member 99 correspond to the grooves in the pipe form as well as the grooves in the side portion I4.

The member 93 is provided with a plurality of transverse internally threaded bores 94 in each of its ends. A pivot 96 extends through a. selected one of the ears 88, 90, 92 and enters a selected one of the bores 94 in one end of the member 93 to permit horizontal swinging movement of r.

the member 93.

The vertical surfaces of the steps 82, 8 5 and 86 are provided with horizontal internally threaded bores 98 for selectively registering with a bore 94 in one end or the member 99. A holding bolt I00 extends through a bore 94 in the member 93 and is threaded in a selected one of the bores 98 for clamping a pipe'in a groove in the member 93 and a groove in the side portion i l.

The upper wall Hi of the frame I9 is provided 1 with a longitudinal groove IIH having dovetail edges I02. Switch supporting arms we having edges complemental to the edges I92, are slidably received in the groove iIlI and support push button switches I96 and I08 that are connected to the electric motor so that as the button of one of the switches is depressed, the circuit to the motor will be broken.

A spring urged locking ball EHO- is carried by each of the arms I94 and yieldingly urges the dovetail edges of the arm I94 against the edges I02 to yieldingly maintain the switches 96 and H18 in a longitudinally adjusted position relative to the frame It.

Graduations H2 in degrees are provided on the upper face of the wall I6 adjacent the groove I0! for registering with the switches so that a selected bend can be made in a pipe.

In practical use of the present invention, the article to be bent, such as a pipe P is inserted through a lug 76, 78 or 89 conforming to its diameter and also enters a selected recess or groove in the side portion I4 to position the pi e horizontal.

Next, the member 93 is pivoted on the pin 99 against the side portion I4 and the bolt IE9 is threaded in a selected one of the openings 98. it being understood that the member 96 is first applied to a selected one or the lugs 89, 99 or 92 so that the groove in the member 93 receiving the pipe will be complemental to the groove in the side portion I l receiving the pipe.

Then, the switch I99 is moved to a selected graduation on the wall I9 depending upon the degree the pipe is to be bent, for example 90", 60 or 45.

As the motor '19 is started, the screw 56 and the trunnion 52 move toward the side portion M and the form 26 is swung clockwise about its trunnion 52 to bend the pipe since the right end portion of the pipe is clamped against the side portion Id. After the pipe has been bent to a predetermined curvature (see Figure 3) and since the trunnion 52 is moving toward the push button of the switch I99, arm 56 on the upper end of the trunnion 52 engages and depresses the button of switch I99 to stop the motor.

The bolt I99 is then backed up and the member 93 swung outwardly to permit removal of the bent pipe.

To straighten a bent pipe, for example, to straighten a pipe having a 90 bend to a 60 bend, the member 93 is swung outwardly and the bent pipe slipped through a selected one of the lugs l6, 18, 89, enters one of the grooves in the member 26 and a corresponding groove in the side portion M.

The member 93 is then secured to the side portion It by the bolt We to clamp the bent pipe against the side portion.

The switch I96 is then moved to register with the 60 graduation on the wall I6, and the motor 79 being of the reversible type, is started to move the screw 99 to the left from its Figure 3 position and swing the member 29 counter-clockwise.

After the pipe has been bent to remove 30" of its bend, the upper end of the trunnion 52 engages and depresses the button of switch I09 and the motor becomes inoperative.

Obviously, through use of the present machine. pipes, rods, bars or the like of various diameters can be bent to any desired angle and pipes that are bent can be straightened or rebent to a desired bend.

The instant machine is capable of straightening or bending railroad track or any such bendable metallic structural members by employing matched contour shoes. The machine also functions as a vise and may be operated mechanically, as shown, or manually by a crank applied to the screw 69.

The curved shoe is approximately 93 which is necessary to overbend a pipe or the like.

Obviously, a slight marker or rise may be provided on the ends of the straight shoe, just inside of the grooves, so that an operator can replace the bend in the exact position for any further calculations. In this regard an indentnre will be impressed on the pipe by the rise for registering with the rise upon replacement of the pipe.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A pipe bending and straightening machine comprising a frame including a pair of spaced side members interconnected by upper and lower wall members, said upper and lower wall members having elongated apertures extending between the side members, a vertically disposed trunnion positioned between said upper and lower wall members and having its opposite end portions received in the apertures thereof, a feed worm threadedly engaged through one of said side members and extending laterally therefrom tov ward the other side member, said trunnion being pivotally secured to said feed Worm, said one side member having a pipe receiving groove therein, an elongated bar clampinglysecured at one end to said one side member and terminating at its other end adjacent said other side member, said elongated bar having a longitudinal groove therein in register with the groove in said one side member whereby a pipe is clampingly secured therebetween, a segmental pipe form rotatably mounted at its apex to said trunnion and provided with a pipe receiving groove in its arcuate marginal edge, means on said marginal edge and extending radially outwardly of said groove for engaging a pipe to be bent, said means being in abutting relation with said other end of the elongated bar When the trunnion is positioned adjacent said other side member, whereby rotation of said segmental pipe form and frictional engagement of said means with the surface of the pipe to be bent is eifected when the trunnion is moved toward said one side member.

2. In a machine for bending pipe and the like, a frame, a, trunnion movable longitudinally on said frame, means for moving said trunnion member longitudinally of said frame, an elongated member secured -to said frame in spaced parallel relation to the path of movement of said trunnion and provided with a pipe receiving roove longitudinally thereof, a segmental pipe form rotatably carried at its apex by said trunnion, said segmental form having its arcuate marginal edge formed with a groove in vertical alignment with the groove in said elongated member and in opposed relation thereto, means on said marginal edge and extending radially outwardly of said groove for receiving a pipe to be bent, said last means being in abutting relation with oneend of said elongated member when said trunnion is disposed at one end of the frame, whereby rotation of said segmental form and frictional engagement of said last means with the surface of a pipe to be bent is effected when the trunnion is moved toward the other end of the frame.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said one end of the elongated member is pivotally secured to the frame and the other end of said elongated member is detachably secured to a.

portion of the frame, said frame portion having a groove in register with the groove in said elongated member for receiving a pipe to be bent, said frame portion and said other end of the elongated member clampingly engaging the pipe to be bent therebetween.

PAUL W. ESSLINGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 670,167 Wood -1 Mar. 19, 1901 1,640,582 Smith Aug. 30, 1927 1,650,955 Miller Nov. 29, 1927 1,899,281 Lidseen Feb. 28, 1933 2,306,223 Parker Dec. 22, 1942 2,306,224 Parker Dec. 22, 1942 2,482,617 Green Sept. 20, 1949 2,536,738 Green Jan. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 657,817 France Jan. 21, 1929 46,084 France Dec. 3, 1935 

